Xbox slayings take even more horrific turn

Victims tortured

The gruesome Florida Xbox killings became even more revolting this week as gory details emerged around the methods used by the murders on their six victims.

In a 15-count indictment, prosecutors stated that the victims had their throats slashed and were stabbed even after they had already died. In addition, one woman was sexually violated with one of the baseball bats used to beat all of the victims to death. A grand jury this week indicted the four men suspected of committing the murders, and State Attorney John Tanner vowed to seek the death penalty for all four individuals.

The story surrounding the murders is as strange as it is disgusting. Florida officials have stated that they believe Troy Victorino, 27, recruited three other men to help commit the killings. Victorino had left his Xbox and some clothes at a squatters house and later found out that someone in the house had taken his kit. He is then accused of hunting down the woman he suspected of taking the Xbox and killing her and five other people in their sleep.

Four officials were fired earlier this month for not arresting Victorino on a probation violation. He had punched a man in June and could have been brought in weeks before the murders occurred, but the probation officials did not file the necessary paperwork until the day after the murders.

Victorino was on probation for beating a man almost to death in 1996.

Three of the men suspected in the murders have confessed to the crimes, according to a local Florida paper, with Victorino holding out. The men are also suspected of kicking the house dog to death. ®